Team News Riveting
Balconagar, February 7
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), India’s iconic aluminium producer and a part of Vedanta Aluminium, conducted a lac training session under its lac cultivation program as part of its CSR initiative, Mor Jal Mor Maati.
The project is in partnership with BAIF Development Research Foundation. The initiative aims to empower farmers by providing specialized training on lac cultivation, focusing on those who own host trees such as ber, kusum, and palash, which are ideal for this practice.
During each season, multiple sessions are held to reach as many farmers as possible. In the most recent session, over 100 farmers participated. Several more training sessions are planned, followed by lac seed distribution to kickstart the first harvest, ensuring that more farmers will benefit from this initiative in the coming weeks. By introducing lac cultivation as a secondary source of income, BALCO has helped generate an additional average income of Rs 50,000 for over 400 farmers.
Chhattisgarh, a major lac producer, has faced fluctuating yields due to climate changes, with Korba once a key industry hub. In 2023, the Mor Jal Mor Maati initiative revitalized lac cultivation in the region by providing expert advice from the ICAR-National Institute of Secondary Agriculture, Ranchi, Jharkhand, on these modern practices. This has empowered local farmers and staff, making lac cultivation a sustainable and replicable practice. Farmers now share resources and cultivate together, with the initiative supplying brood lac. Cultivation occurs twice a year, once for seed generation and once for commercial production, resulting in increased output.
Lac has diverse applications in wood finishing, food, cosmetics, jewellery, and more. Beyond its commercial value, lac cultivation supports sustainable livelihoods for communities, promotes community-driven land management, and aids in biodiversity conservation. However, a lack of skills and knowledge has limited its growth. Adopting scientific cultivation methods can boost productivity in existing lac-growing areas. Lac’s by-products, including resin, dye, and wax, are used in industries such as food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, textiles, adhesives, varnishes, and paints. Improved cultivation methods not only enhance profitability but also provide farmers with a more lucrative alternative to traditional crops.
Commenting on advancing agricultural practices in the region, Rajesh Kumar, CEO of BALCO , said, “Through our Mor Jal Mor Maati project, we are focused on empowering farmers with modern techniques of cultivation, which provides an additional source of income, as well as promotes ecological balance. By equipping farmers with the knowledge and resources needed to adopt innovative practices, we are fostering long-term growth and supporting the livelihoods of rural communities. This commitment reflects our broader vision of driving economic progress and enhancing sustainability across all sectors.”
Amal, a local from Parsakhola village of Korba , shared his story of transformation, “Growing up in a farming family, I always thought of cultivating lac, as our village’s natural environment was perfect for it. However, due to financial constraints, I did not pursue my aspirations. That changed when I learned about the Mor Jal Mor Maati project. The initiative provided me with lac seeds and training at the Vedanta Agriculture Resource Centre in Bela. With the knowledge I gained, I started cultivating lac and earned a profit of around Rs 80,000.”
The Mor Jal Mor Maati project focuses on supporting farmers through initiatives such as improving surface water management with existing resources, augmenting irrigation facilities, and promoting multi-cropping to reduce dependence on rainfall. It is also introducing farmers to new avenues such as lac cultivation, animal husbandry, horticulture, and non-timber forest produce, ensuring income generation round the year. The Vedanta Agriculture & Resource Centre (VARC) has also been set up as part of the project to complement these efforts through trainings and input support. To date, the project has impacted over 5,700 farmers, driving sustainable agricultural practices and economic growth.
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) is India’s iconic aluminium producer. It is owned 51 per cent by Vedanta Limited and 49 per cent by the Government of India. BALCO is part of Vedanta’s Aluminium Business, a division of Vedanta Limited, which is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its leading sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.
